Measle ball should not be used during matches

As a player I couldn't care less either way. I find no advantage in having the measle ball but have no problem with them either.

I do like them as a spectator though and enjoy being able to see more about what the player is doing and how they hit the shot in the moment. I've always thought of them as a made for tv type of thing, nothing about them seems to be geared towards training.
 
I have the red measles ball, the black measles & the blue measles cue balls.
The red one is from Aramith while the black and the blue versions are Saluc.

The dots are distracting for aiming purposes but it admittedly gives feedback
about rotational spin of any measles cue ball. It is hardly a gimmick or crutch.

On a blue Simonis cloth, I play with the blue measles ball. On a green Simonis
cloth, I play the red measles cue ball. But the black measles ball is my favorite.

While do I change? Blue on blue looks the best, red on green is the perfect color
contrast reminiscent of Xmas colors & the black measles just looks really bad ass.
 
Mine are all counterfeit. Except for the undersized one they weigh enough and play like a proper rock.
The red, blue and black black measles are available on Manning Cues and none of them are Chinese counterfeit.
Getting the original is worth the price or don’t even bother. The finish and weight of counterfeit versions are suspect.
 
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I've always thought of them as a made for tv type of thing, nothing about them seems to be geared towards training.
I think that's right. The measle ball was developed because it offers more to the spectators (and commentators) of pro pool, but it has proven to be very valuable in training, as well.
 
The six-dot ball was originally developed by Aramith for the professional 3-cushion tour. It was partly for branding (along with blue cloth) but mostly for TV and spectators. They were much harder to make at the start (around 1999) and in short supply. Among other things, you have to make sure the spots are the same hardness as the rest of the ball. In the current design, the six spots go clear down to the center of the ball.

At carom now, even the red ball has spots:

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The spots on the red ball are actually useful.
 
I was starting to see them in some tournaments so I bought a measles ball as a practice ball. Bought from a reputable supplier, paid almost thirty dollars, came in the proper packaging. My primary hall used the red circle cue ball. The measle ball rolled a foot or two long for three or four rail shape. I could not practice with it before play or a tournament. I did have some people ask to play with it and I obliged them but I hated having to always adjust remembering the cue ball was going to roll long compared to the red circle balls used in the hall.

Hu
 
I was starting to see them in some tournaments so I bought a measles ball as a practice ball. Bought from a reputable supplier, paid almost thirty dollars, came in the proper packaging. My primary hall used the red circle cue ball. The measle ball rolled a foot or two long for three or four rail shape. I could not practice with it before play or a tournament. I did have some people ask to play with it and I obliged them but I hated having to always adjust remembering the cue ball was going to roll long compared to the red circle balls used in the hall.

Hu
That could be simply because it was brand new and highly polished.

On my home table, the Simonis was 10 years old, and the Aramith balls the same. I bought a brand new set of Dynasphere Tungsten balls, and I swear it was like new cloth was on the table. The balls were rolling further, and they seemed to come off the rails a bit longer angles.

The Aramitlh balls were in very good condition and I would run them through the polisher about once per week. The new balls just were flawless in comparison, and I guess that affected the roll slightly.
 
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